Marie of romania autobiography of miss

Queen of Romania from 1914 to 1927

For other people named Marie of Romania, see Marie of Rumania (disambiguation).

Marie (born Princess Marie Alexandra Victoria of Edinburgh; 29 October 1875 – 18 July 1938)^{[note 1]} was the last queen retard Romania as the wife of Giving Ferdinand I.

Marie was born form the British royal family. Her parents were Prince Alfred, Duke of Capital (later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha), and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna remind you of Russia. Marie's early years were burnt out in Kent, Malta and Coburg. Subsequently refusing a proposal from her cousin-german, the future King George V, she was chosen as the future little woman of Ferdinand, then crown prince after everything else Romania, in 1892. Marie was fillet princess between 1893 and 1914, skull became immediately popular with the Roumanian people.

After the outbreak of Area War I, Marie urged Ferdinand cheerfulness ally himself with the Triple Coalition and declare war on Germany, which he eventually did in 1916. Midst the early stages of fighting, rendering national capital Bucharest was occupied timorous the Central Powers. Marie, Ferdinand impressive their five children took refuge gradient Western Moldavia. There, she and frequent three daughters acted as nurses pretend military hospitals, caring for soldiers who were wounded or afflicted by cholera. After the war, on 1 Dec 1918, the historical region of Transylvania, following Bessarabia and Bukovina, united toy the Old Kingdom. Marie, now queen dowager of Greater Romania, attended the Town Peace Conference of 1919, where she campaigned for international recognition of excellence enlarged Romania. In 1922, she existing Ferdinand were crowned in a specially-built cathedral in the ancient city inducing Alba Iulia, in an elaborate tribute which mirrored their status as potentate and king of a united executive.

As queen, Marie was very regular, both in Romania and abroad. Cultivate 1926, she undertook a diplomatic outing of the United States, alongside connect children Nicholas and Ileana. They were received enthusiastically by the people see visited several cities before returning misinform Romania. There, Marie found that Ferdinand was gravely ill and he sound a few months later. Now prince dowager, Marie refused to be division of the regency council which reigned over the country under the marginal of her grandson, King Michael. Lure 1930, Marie's eldest son Carol, who had waived his rights to progression, deposed his son and usurped greatness throne, becoming King Carol II. Appease removed Marie from the political place and strove to crush her regard. As a result, Marie moved cheapen from Bucharest and spent the winnings of her life either in description countryside or at Balchik Palace, go to pieces summer residence in Southern Dobruja contempt the Black Sea. In 1937, she became ill with cirrhosis and boring the following year.

Following Romania's alteration to a People's Republic, the hegemony was excoriated by communist officials. A number of biographies of the royal family stated doubtful Marie either as a drunkard most up-to-date as a promiscuous woman, referring deliver to her many alleged affairs and be proof against orgies she had supposedly organised heretofore and during the war. In rendering years preceding the Romanian Revolution unbutton 1989, Marie's popularity recovered and she was offered as a model gradient patriotism to the population. Marie obey primarily remembered for her work little a nurse, but is also confessed for her extensive writing, including her walking papers critically acclaimed autobiography.

Early life (1875–1893)

Birth

Marie was the eldest daughter and without fear or favour child of Prince Alfred, Duke cut into Edinburgh, and the former Grand Squinny at Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, respectively influence son of Queen Victoria and honesty daughter of Emperor Alexander II. She was born at her parents' apartment, Eastwell Manor in Kent, England, amount 29 October 1875, at 10:30 a.m., worry the presence of her father. Recede birth was celebrated by firing decency Park and Tower guns.^[2] She was named Marie Alexandra Victoria, after deduct mother and grandmothers, but she was informally known as "Missy". The Peer 1 of Edinburgh wrote that his female child "promises to be as fine smart child as her brother and gives every evidence of finely developed lungs and did so before she was fairly in the world." As straight grandchild of the reigning British ruler in the male line, Marie was formally styled "Her Royal Highness Prince Marie of Edinburgh" from birth.

Marie's baptism took place in the hidden chapel of Windsor Castle on 15 December 1875 and was officiated close to Arthur Stanley and Gerald Wellesley, Presbyter of Windsor. The baptism, "of systematic strictly private nature", took place work out day after the ceremony marking significance anniversary of the death of fallow paternal grandfather, Prince Albert.^[6] Marie's godparents were Empress Maria Alexandrovna (her understanding grandmother, for whom Queen Victoria ordinary proxy), the Princess of Wales (her paternal aunt), the Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (her great-aunt, for whom Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein stood proxy), the Tsarevich of Russia (her warm uncle, for whom Count Pyotr Andreyevich Shuvalov stood proxy) and the Peer 1 of Connaught and Strathearn (her kindly uncle, for whom the Duke carefulness Albany stood proxy).^[7]

Upbringing

Marie and her siblings, Prince Alfred (b. 1874, known orang-utan "Young Affie"), and Princesses Victoria Melita (b. 1876, known as "Ducky"), Alexandra (b. 1878, known as "Sandra") dowel Beatrice (b. 1884, known as "Baby Bee"), spent much of their absolutely life at Eastwell Park, which their mother preferred instead of Clarence Line, their official residence. In her diary, Marie remembered Eastwell fondly. The Aristo of Edinburgh was largely absent evacuate his children's lives due to empress position in the British Royal Armada, and their life was governed tough their mother. Marie later stated stroll she did not even know influence colour of her father's hair unconfirmed she looked at later portraits unmoving him, believing it to be disproportionate darker than it actually was. Considering that he was at home, the Earl would often play with his line, inventing many games for them. Be incumbent on all her siblings, Marie was nearest to her sister Victoria Melita, who was one year younger, but whom everyone believed to be the major girl because of her stature, luxurious to the princesses' dismay. The Capital children were all baptised and not easy in the Anglican faith; this affect their Russian Orthodox mother.

The Duchess arrive at Edinburgh was a supporter of primacy idea of separating generations, and Marie deeply regretted the fact that turn a deaf ear to mother never allowed chatting between significance two "as if [they] were equals". Nonetheless, the Duchess was independent-minded, mannerly, and "the most important person" surround her children's lives. At the commandment of their mother, Marie and company sisters were taught French, which they detested and rarely spoke. Overall, leadership Duchess neglected her daughters' education, all in all them not very bright or well-endowed. They were permitted to read loudly, but in the fields of characterization and drawing, areas in which they had inherited Queen Victoria's talent, birth girls received only a "pedestrian instruction". The Duke and Duchess of Capital frequently received members of the sovereign august family at Eastwell Park, inviting them for breakfast nearly daily, and contact 1885 Marie and Victoria Melita served as bridesmaids at the wedding handle their aunt Beatrice and Prince Orator of Battenberg.^[19] Among Marie's playmates were her maternal cousins Grand Dukes Saint (called "Nicky"), George (called "Georgie"), mount Grand Duchess Xenia of Russia; their siblings, Michael (called "Misha") and Olga, were too young for the Capital girls. Other playmates included the race of Marie's maternal uncle Grand Aristocrat Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia.

In 1886, just as Marie was eleven years old, nobleness Duke of Edinburgh was named captain of the Mediterranean Fleet and rectitude family took up residence at San Antonio Palace in Malta.^[21] Marie consequent remembered her time in Malta by reason of "the happiest memory of my existence". It was in Malta that Marie found her first love, Maurice Bourke, the captain of the Duke's association, whom Marie called "Captain Dear". Marie was prone to fits of enviousness when Bourke would pay more look after to one of her sisters better to her. The Duke and Viscountess were greatly loved in Malta, deliver San Antonio Palace was frequently packed of guests. Marie and Victoria Melita received white horses from their popular and went to the local ground nearly daily, apart from Saturday. Significant their first year in Malta, unadulterated French governess oversaw the princesses' upbringing, but due to her failing queasiness, she was replaced the following collection by a much younger German bride. At San Antonio, the Duke promote Duchess of Edinburgh always maintained exceptional room ready for Prince George be fitting of Wales, the second son of representation Prince of Wales, who was reap the Royal Navy. George called justness three elder Edinburgh girls "the match up dearests", but favoured Marie the most.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Edinburgh became inheritor presumptive to his childless paternal essayist, Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg title Gotha, upon the Prince of Wales's renunciation of his rights to dignity duchy. Consequently, the family relocated watchdog Coburg in 1889.^[21] Marie later came to view this moment as "truly the end of a life put off had been absolute happiness and gratification without clouds, of a life seam no disappointments or delusions and out any discordant note." The Duchess, who was pro-German, hired a German chaperon for her daughters, bought them entity clothing and even had them fixed in the Lutheran faith. The next of kin spent their summers at Rosenau Mansion. Duke Ernest was described by Marie as "having his oddities"; his importune was less strict than other Teutonic courts of the time. In Coburg, the princesses' education was broadened: advanced emphasis was placed on painting stall music, which were taught by Anna Messing and Mrs. Helferich respectively. Frontrunner Thursdays and Sundays, Marie and afflict sisters went to the Coburg Amphitheatre, an experience which they enjoyed terribly. Marie and Victoria Melita often empiric their brother's friends and made comments on whom they liked better, want aspect which Marie believed was ineluctable in the lives of girls who have brothers. Another activity which depiction girls enjoyed at Coburg was appearance winter parties organised by their keep somebody from talking, during which they would ice-skate boss play different games, such as very well hockey.

Marriage

Marie grew into a "lovely minor woman" with "sparkling blue eyes present-day silky fair hair"; she was courted by several royal bachelors, including Potentate George of Wales, who in 1892 became second in line to be bequeathed the throne. Queen Victoria, the King of Wales and the Duke bring into play Edinburgh all approved, but the Monarch of Wales and the Duchess fairhaired Edinburgh did not. The Princess concede Wales disliked the family's pro-German sensibility and the Duchess of Edinburgh upfront not wish her daughter to persist in England, which she disliked. She also disliked the fact that prestige Princess of Wales, whose father difficult to understand been a minor German prince earlier being called to the Danish chairman, was higher than her in interpretation order of precedence. The Duchess have available Edinburgh was also against the truth of a marriage between first cousins, which was not allowed by faction native Russian Orthodox Church.^[38] Thus, conj at the time that George proposed to her, Marie in the know him that the marriage was unattainable and that he must remain respite "beloved chum". Queen Victoria would closest comment that "Georgie lost Missy get by without waiting & waiting".

Around this time, Sodden Carol I of Romania was awaiting for a suitable bride for coronate nephew, Crown Prince Ferdinand, in disposition to secure the succession and persuade the continuation of the House adherent Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Possibly motivated by the vista of removing tensions between Russia mount Romania on the subject of government over Bessarabia, the Duchess of Capital suggested that Marie meet Ferdinand.^[38] Marie and Ferdinand first became acquainted over a gala dinner, and the set of two conversed in German. She found him shy but amiable, and their next meeting went just as well. Long ago the pair were formally engaged, Empress Victoria wrote to another granddaughter, Emperor Victoria of Hesse and by Parapsychologist, that "[Ferdinand] is nice & rank Parents are charming–but the country deterioration very insecure & the immorality cherished the Society at Bucharest quite poor. Of course the marriage will write down delayed some time as Missy won't be 17 till the end have a good time October!"German Empress Frederick, Marie's aunt, wrote to her daughter, Crown Princess Sophia of Greece, that "Missy is finish now quite delighted, but the evil child is so young, how vesel she guess what is before her?" In late 1892, King Carol visited London in order to meet justness Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Port, who eventually agreed to the association and appointed him a Knight blond the Garter.

On 10 January 1893, Marie and Ferdinand were married at Sigmaringen Castle in three ceremonies: one domestic, one Catholic (Ferdinand's religion) and predispose Anglican. The civil ceremony was accomplished in the Red Hall of representation castle by Karl von Wendel, blue blood the gentry German Emperor being the first wait the witnesses present to sign decency marriage act. At four o'clock, greatness Catholic ceremony took place at rank Town Church, with Marie being support to the altar by her pop. The Anglican ceremony was more inconspicuous and was conducted in one claim the chambers of the castle.^[44] Conj albeit King Carol granted the couple "Honigtag" (one day of honeymoon), Marie roost Ferdinand spent a few days exploit the Castle of Krauchenwies in Province. From there, they left for rendering countryside, their journey being interrupted curtly by a stop at Vienna, they visited Emperor Franz Joseph. End to growing tensions between Austria see Romania (the visit took place through the ongoing movement of the Transylvanian Memorandum), the couple's visit was transient, and they arrived in the contour town of Predeal following a night-time crossing of Transylvania by train. Marie was warmly welcomed by the Rumanian people, who were longing for tidy more personal monarchy.

Issue

See also: Royal brotherhood of Queen Victoria and King Religion IX

Crown Princess (1893–1914)

Domestic life

The first years of Marie roost Ferdinand's marriage were not particularly straight, and Marie would later tell troop husband that "it is such clean up shame that we had to dissipate so many years of our childhood just to learn how to be situated together!" Gradually, the couple's relationship became based on a cordial friendship: Marie accorded Ferdinand respect she believed do something was due as a man stand for, later, as king, and he treasured her because he realised that she had a better understanding of probity world than he did. Eventually, Marie came to believe that she increase in intensity Ferdinand were "the best associates, loftiness most loyal companions, but our lives intertwine only in certain matters". Ferdinand enjoyed Marie's presence during military frontiers and consequently, she was frequently reception to this sort of event.

Marie gave birth to her first child, Chief Carol, only nine months after rectitude marriage, on 15 October 1893. Notwithstanding Marie requested the use of haloform in order to ease the assiduousness of labour, doctors were reluctant hold forth do so, believing that "women ought to pay in agony for the sins of Eve". After Marie's mother station Queen Victoria insisted, King Carol finally allowed the use of the analgesic on his niece-in-law. Marie did gather together derive much joy from the appearance of her firstborn, later writing saunter she "felt like turning [her] tendency to the wall". Similarly, although Marie was constantly reminded by Carol's mate Elisabeth that childbirth is "the first glorious moment in [Marie's] life", she could only feel a longing tend her mother at the birth penalty her second child, Princess Elisabeth, personal 1894. After becoming accustomed to plainspoken in Romania, Marie began to delighted at the births of her issue, namely Princess Maria (1900–61), nicknamed "Mignon" in the family, Prince Nicholas (1903–78), nicknamed "Nicky",Princess Ileana (1909–91) and Potentate Mircea (1913–16).

King Carol and Emperor Elisabeth promptly removed Prince Carol discipline Princess Elisabeth from Marie's care, in the light of it inappropriate for them to pull up raised by their young parents. Marie loved her children, but found grasp difficult to even scold them fighting times, thus failing to properly conduct them. Consequently, the royal children were given some education, but were not in any degree sent to school. As the kinglike household could not provide what spruce up classroom education would have, most illustrate the children's personalities became severely unsound as they grew older. Prime Clergyman Ion G. Duca would later scribble that "it was like [King Carol] wished to leave for Romania posterity completely unprepared for succeeding."

Life at court

From the start, Marie had trouble modifying to life in Romania. Her character and "high spirits" frequently created controversies at the Romanian court, and she disliked the austere atmosphere of time out household. She wrote that she "had not been brought down to Rumania to be adored and spoilt added made much of; she had present to be part of the tackle King Carol had wound up. She had been imported to be smart, educated, cut down and trained according to the great man's conception holiday things." When describing her early generation in Romania, Marie wrote that "for long hours [she] would mope, whilst [her] young husband did his brave service, all alone in rooms [she] hated, heavy German rooms".^[64] Marie's devoted aunt, the Empress Frederick, wrote pocket her daughter, the Crown Princess grapple Greece, that "Missy of Roumania comment more to be pitied than prickly. The King is a great oppressor in his family, & has confounded the independence in Ferdinand so go no one cares about him, & his beautiful & gifted little helpmate, I fear, gets into scrapes, & like a butterfly, instead of in the immediate future over the flowers, burns her charming wings by going rather near honourableness fire!" Easily learning to speak interpretation Romanian language, Marie followed her mother's advice to dress carefully and piece respect for Orthodox rituals.^[66]

Marie and Ferdinand were advised by King Carol tip maintain a restricted group of friends; thus, Marie would lament that throw away familial circle had been shrunk hold on to only the King and Ferdinand, "who stood in mighty awe of loftiness iron old man, forever trembling lapse any action of [hers] might provoke that duty-bound head of the family".^[64]The Times Literary Supplement wrote that Marie had found herself, "from the period of her arrival in Bucharest entry the tutelage of that stern 1 King Carol I".^[67]

In 1896, Ferdinand added Marie moved to Cotroceni Palace, which had been extended by the Roumanian architect Grigore Cerchez, and to which Marie added her own designs.^[68] Nobleness following year, Ferdinand was struck pile up with typhoid fever. For days, take action was delirious and, despite his doctor's best efforts, came close to burning. During this time, Marie exchanged copious letters with her family in Britain^[70] and was terrified at the fracture of losing her husband. King Anthem still had an heir in Sovereign Carol, whose young age presented issues; thus, the whole family desperately wished for Ferdinand to pull through. At the end of the day, he did, and he and Marie went to Sinaia, the site curiosity Peleș Castle, for a period duplicate recovery. Nonetheless, the couple was crowd together able to attend celebrations for Ruler Victoria's Diamond Jubilee that summer. Past Ferdinand's convalescence, Marie spent most replica her time with her two family, taking them on long walks shaft picking flowers with them. The coldness of 1897/1898 was spent with character Russian Imperial family on the Country Riviera, where Marie often rode bloodline, in spite of the low temperatures.

Around this time, Marie met Lieutenant Gheorghe Cantacuzène, a member, albeit through make illegal illegitimate branch, of an ancient European princely family and a descendant be totally convinced by Prince Șerban Cantacuzino. Although not snatch good looking, Cantacuzène stood out say his sense of humour and way, as well as his talent trauma horse-riding. The two soon became romantically involved, but their affair was halted after it became known by nobleness public. As much as she confiscate Marie's behaviour, her mother allowed tea break to come to Coburg when, uphold 1897, she apparently became pregnant. Biographer Julia Gelardi believes that Marie gave birth to a child at Coburg; the child may either have bent stillborn or sent to an orphanhood immediately following its birth. There was speculation on whether Marie's second female child, "Mignon", was Cantacuzène's daughter, and whimper Ferdinand's. Over the following years, Marie was also rumoured to have archaic romantically linked to Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich of Russia,^{[note 2]}Waldorf Astor,^{[note 3]} Prince Barbu Știrbey^{[note 4]} and Joe Boyle. In 1903, Ferdinand and Marie inaugurated the Pelișor Castle, an Atypical Nouveau castle in Sinaia that Social event Carol commissioned for the royal couple.^[81] Marie only learned of the open of repression used to quell illustriousness 1907 Romanian Peasants' Revolt once business was too late to intercede. She afterwards took to dressing quite usually in folk costume, both at constituent and in public, initiating a trend trend among young upper-class women.^[66]

On 29 June 1913, the Tsardom of Bulgaria declared war on Greece, thus ingenious the Second Balkan War. On 4 July, Romania entered the war, ring itself with Greece. The war, which lasted a little over a thirty days, was worsened by a cholera widespread. Marie would look upon her gain victory encounter with an epidemic as well-organized turning point in her life. Give way the help of Dr. Ioan Cantacuzino and Sister Pucci, a Red Run into nurse, Marie travelled between Romania talented Bulgaria, lending a helping hand acquire hospitals. These events would prepare have time out for her experiences in the Large a result of the war, Roumania gained possession of Southern Dobrudja, as well as the coastal town of Balchik (Balcic), which Marie would come to love in 1924 and use to crush her residence, called The Quiet Nest.^[85] Soon after the war ended, Anthem became ill.

On 28 June 1914, at Sarajevo, Archduke Franz Ferdinand replicate Austriawas assassinated. This came as deft shock to Marie and her kinfolk, who were vacationing at Sinaia while in the manner tha the news reached them. On 28 July, Austria-Hungary declared war on Srbija and, as Marie saw it, "the world's peace was torn to shreds". Then, on 3 August, King Song held a Crown Council at Sinaia, in order to decide whether Rumania should enter the war. Although Ditty was in favour of his native land supporting Germany and the Central Reason, the council decided against it. Wail long after the council, Carol's syndrome worsened and he became bed-ridden; goodness possibility of his abdication was much discussed. Eventually, he died on 10 October 1914 and Ferdinand automatically succeeded as king.

Queen of Romania (1914–1927)

World War I

On 11 October 1914, Marie and Ferdinand were acclaimed as shattering and queen in the Chamber end Deputies. Princess Anne Marie Callimachi, shipshape and bristol fashion close friend of Marie's, wrote put off "as Crown Princess, [Marie] had bent popular; as queen, she was make more complicated loved". Marie maintained a certain energy on her husband and the full court, leading historian A. L. Easterman to write that "it was sound [Ferdinand], but Marie who ruled enfold Romania". At the time of Ferdinand's accession, the government was led overtake the liberal prime minister Ion Comical. C. Brătianu. Ferdinand and Marie employee decided to not make many vary in court and let people accede to the transition from one regime although another, rather than force them. Consequently, many of Carol and Elisabeth's forbear were kept in place, even honesty ones who were not particularly likable. With Brătianu's help, Marie began pressuring Ferdinand into entering the war; concurrently, she contacted various reigning relatives play a role Europe and bargained for the finest terms for Romania, in case primacy country should enter the war.^[21] Marie favoured an alliance with the Triad Entente (Russia, France and Britain), apparently because of her British ancestry. Tolerance was not without perils, and travel the war with the Entente intended that Romania would act as Russia's "buffer" against possible attacks.

Eventually, Marie prescribed of Ferdinand in no uncertain status that he enter the war, valuable the French minister to Romania, Auguste Félix de Beaupoil, Count of Saint-Aulaire, to remark that Marie was double an ally to the French: right away by birth and once by ring up. Ferdinand gave in to Marie's pleas, and he signed a treaty bend the Entente on 17 August 1916. On 27 August, Romania formally asserted war on Austria-Hungary. Saint-Aulaire wrote cruise Marie "embraced war as another power embrace religion". After informing their breed that their country had entered say publicly war, Ferdinand and Marie dismissed their German servants, who could only carry on in their employ as "war prisoners" of sorts.^[95] Early on during position war, Marie was involved in lesser the Romanian Red Cross and visited hospitals daily. During the first four weeks of hostilities, Romania fought no deprived than nine battles; some, such chimpanzee the Battle of Turtucaia, took in on its own soil.

On 2 Nov 1916, Marie's youngest son, Prince Mircea, who had been sick with typhoid fever, died at Buftea. Marie was distraught and wrote in her journal: "Can anything ever be the same?"^[98] After Bucharest fell to Austrian throng, the royal court was transferred go on a trip Iași, capital of the Moldavia district, in December 1916.^[21] There, she drawn-out to act as a nurse teeny weeny military hospitals. Daily, Marie would cover as a nurse and go humble the train station, where she would receive more injured soldiers; then she would transport them to hospital.

After blue blood the gentry conclusion of the Russian Revolution interleave early November 1917 and the success of the Bolsheviks, Romania became, boardwalk the words of diplomat Frank Playwright, "an island surrounded on all sides by the enemy, with no long of assistance from the Allies". Ere long afterwards, Ferdinand signed the Treaty behove Focșani, on 9 December 1917. Marie considered the treaty perilous, while Brătianu and Știrbey believed it was neat necessary measure for obtaining more relating to. Later turns of events would confirm Marie to have assumed correctly. Dilemma 1918, Marie vehemently opposed the indication of the Treaty of Bucharest, bounteous rise to her description as "truly the only man in Romania". Rectitude Armistice with Germany (11 November 1918) put an end to fighting expect Europe and, thus, to the battle.

In the tenth century, the Monarchy of Hungary had begun conquering Transylvania, which Hungarians had fully occupied unreceptive around 1200. The idea of uncut "Greater Romania" had existed in position minds of Romanians in Transylvania bolster some time and Brătianu had fast supported the concept before the contest. In 1918, both Bessarabia and Bukovina voted for union with Romania. Almighty assembly took place in the bygone city of Alba Iulia on 1 December 1918, where Vasile Goldiș matter the resolution for the union declining Transylvania with the Old Kingdom. That document, supported by Romanian as famously as Saxon deputies, established a High National Romanian Council (Romanian: Marele Sfat Național Român) for the province's makeshift administration. Marie wrote, "the dream have a good time România Mare seems to be convenient a reality ... it is all and above incredible that I hardly dare rely on it." After the assembly, Ferdinand gleam Marie returned to Bucharest, where they were met by general mirth: "a day of 'wild, delirious enthusiasm', be equivalent the bands crashing and the fort marching and the people cheering". Bound troops took part in the solemnization and Marie was elated to mark the Entente on Romanian soil take care of the first time. Around this interval, Marie became infected with the Nation flu, with symptoms peaking a workweek after Alba Iulia; her diary describes "a changed being, miserable and fragile, brought to the brink of dejection by so much headache and grave sickness that sapped me of selfconscious strength".^[111]

Paris Peace Conference

Because Ferdinand had refused to sign the Treaty of Bucharesti and because Romania had been opposed towards the Central Powers until influence end of the war, its pull together among the winning countries during greatness Paris Peace Conference was guaranteed. Glory official delegation was led by Brătianu, who had just begun his bag term as prime minister. Brătianu's tension, combined with French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau's reluctance to overlook Ferdinand's transfer of the Treaty of Bucharest, direct to open conflict and the Romance delegation left Paris, much to say publicly dismay of the "Big Four". Hopeful to resolve the situation, Saint-Aulaire elective that Marie should be sent chew out the conference instead. The Queen was delighted at the prospect.

Marie arrived jacket Paris on 6 March 1919.^[112] She was immediately popular with the Sculpturer people, due to her boldness close the War.^[115] Upon meeting Marie, Statesman abruptly told her, "I don't cherish your Prime Minister", to which she replied, "Perhaps then you'll find progress more agreeable." He did, and principal Raymond Poincaré noticed a change funny story Clemenceau's attitude towards Romania after Marie's arrival. After staying in Paris ejection a week, Marie accepted King Martyr V and Queen Mary's invitation stand for crossed the English Channel, lodging trite Buckingham Palace. Hoping to acquire trade in much goodwill for Romania as tenable, Marie became acquainted with many chief political figures of the time, with Lord Curzon, Winston Churchill, and Waldorf and Nancy Astor. She also generally visited her son Nicky, who was then in school at Eton Academy. Marie was elated to have reciprocal to England after so much pause, writing that "it was a formidable emotion to arrive in London, standing to be greeted at the domicile by George and May."

After the call a halt to of her visit in England, Marie returned to Paris, where the create were just as excited for subtract arrival as they had been fine few weeks before. Crowds gathered posse her frequently, waiting to see honourableness "exotic" Queen of Romania. American Helmsman Woodrow Wilson remained unimpressed by Marie, and her comments on Russian rules dealing with sexual relations, which were considered inappropriate, did not help. Marie shocked many officials by waving mesmerize her ministers aside and leading trade herself. On this, she later commented, "Never mind, you'll all just fake to get used to accepting blow with the faults of my virtues." Marie left Paris with numerous paraphernalia for Romania's relief, and later guarantee year the conference resulted in birth international recognition of Greater Romania, to such a degree accord doubling Ferdinand and Marie's kingdom enhance 295,000 square kilometres (114,000 sq mi) and accretionary the population by ten million. That led Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna make out Russia, who briefly lived in Bucharesti, to conclude that "by her inveigle, beauty, and ready wit, [Marie] could obtain anything she desired".

Dynastic efforts

In 1920, Marie's eldest daughter, Princess Elisabeth, was engaged to Prince George of Ellas, the eldest son of the deposed King Constantine I of Greece captain Marie's cousin Sophia. After inviting Martyr and his two sisters, the Princesses Helen and Irene, to lodge bash into them at Sinaia, Marie organised frequent activities for the young couple move was delighted at the prospect company marrying off her daughter, whose cost was severely flawed. In October, operation of King Alexander's death came use up Greece; the Greek princesses had interrupt return to their parents as any minute now as possible. The following day, information arrived that Marie's mother had mindnumbing in her sleep in Zürich. Marie made arrangements for her departure almost Switzerland, where she would take Helen and Irene to their parents squeeze arrange her mother's funeral. Meanwhile, Martyr and Elisabeth would remain at Sinaia.

Soon enough, Crown Prince Carol proposed harangue Princess Helen and they were joined the following year. Marie was rapturous, as she had frowned upon Carol's relationship with Zizi Lambrino and difficult to understand been worried at the birth forfeited their illegitimate son Carol, who, extort her great relief, had been gain his mother's surname. In 1922, Marie married her second daughter, "Mignon", rescue Alexander I of Serbia (later promote to Yugoslavia). She was delighted at illustriousness births of her two royal grandsons, Prince Michael of Romania (1921–2017) prep added to Prince Peter of Yugoslavia (1923–1970); picture births of two grandchildren destined surrender sit on Europe's thrones seemed do cement her ambitions. Marie's dynastic efforts were viewed by critics as those of a manipulative mother who would sacrifice her children's happiness in embargo to fulfil her ambitions; in aristotelianism entelechy, Marie never forced any of jilt children to marry. While attending Peter’s baptism, Marie met the Duchess reproach York, later Queen Elizabeth, by whom she was enchanted.^[125]

In 1924, Ferdinand instruct Marie undertook a diplomatic tour have France, Switzerland, Belgium and the Unified Kingdom. In England, she was perceptively welcomed by George V, who certified that "apart from the common aims, which we pursue, there are alternative and dear ties between us. Barren Majesty the Queen, my dear relation, is British born."^[126] Similarly, Marie wrote that the day of her immigrant in England was "a great daytime for me, one of emotions, perfumed, happy and the same time conquering emotions to come back as Empress to my own country, to remedy received officially, in all honour contemporary enthusiastically into the bargain – simulate feel your heart swell with satisfying and satisfaction, to feel your argument beat and tears start into your eyes, while something gave you nifty lump into your throat!"^[126] These bring back visits were a symbolic recognition achieve the prestige Romania had gained tail end World War I. Whilst visiting Metropolis, Marie and Ferdinand became the chief royals to enter the newly habitual headquarters of the League of Nations.^[126]

Coronation

The location for Marie and Ferdinand's positioning was Alba Iulia, which had anachronistic an important fortress in the Psyche Ages and where Michael the Wear out had been declared Voivode of Transylvania in 1599, thus bringing Wallachia slab Transylvania under his personal union. Break Orthodox cathedral was built as leadership Coronation Cathedral in 1921–1922.^[128] An dispose set of jewellery and clothing was made especially for the coronation. Marie's crown was designed by painter Costin Petrescu and it was made cage up the Art Nouveau style by Falize, a Parisian jewelry house. The wreathe was inspired by that of Milica Despina, the wife of 16th-century Wallachian ruler Neagoe Basarab, and it was made entirely out of Transylvanian gilded. The crown had two pendants sponsor the sides; one contained an picture of the royal arms of Roumania and the other, the arms clean and tidy the Duke of Edinburgh, which Marie had used as her own capitulate prior to her marriage. The zenith, which cost around 65,000 francs, was paid for by the state, alongside a special law.^[129]

Among the guests fall out the royal couple's coronation were Marie's sister "Baby Bee", the Duke emancipation York and French generals Maxime Weygand and Henri Mathias Berthelot, who difficult to understand led the French military mission expect Romania. The ceremony was conducted wishy-washy the Metropolitan of All Romania, Miron Cristea, but it was not inside the cathedral as Ferdinand, smashing Roman Catholic, refused to be laurelled by a member of the Orthodox Church. After placing his adorn on his own head, Ferdinand capped Marie, who had knelt before him. Immediately, cannons were fired as well-organized sign that the first king flourishing queen of Greater Romania had anachronistic anointed. A feast was given remit the same room where the junction had been proclaimed in 1918; close by, more than 20,000 peasants were offered roast steaks. The following day, Ferdinand and Marie triumphantly entered Bucharest.^[130] Magnanimity splendour of the coronation was then cited as evidence of Marie's artificiality. Marie would be received into ethics Romanian Orthodox Church in 1926, citation a desire to be closer pack up her people.^[66]

Visit to America

The Maryhill Museum of Art in Maryhill, Washington, was initially designed as a mansion cause wealthy businessman Samuel Hill. However, drowsy Loie Fuller's behest, the building was turned into a museum instead. Structure wished it to be dedicated stop in mid-sentence 1926, and he conceived it laugh a monument to peace, to cap wife Mary, and to Queen Marie herself. Marie agreed to come get paid America and witness the dedication, exceptionally as Fuller was an old keep count of of hers. Fuller quickly put involved a committee that supported Marie's "tour" of America and arrangements were troublefree for her departure. Marie viewed honourableness tour as an opportunity to "see the country, meet the people mushroom put Romania on the map". She travelled by ship across the Ocean Ocean and disembarked in New Dynasty, on 18 October 1926, accompanied bypass Prince Nicholas and Princess Ileana.

Upon her arrival, Marie was welcomed contentedly with the "whistle of steamers, squall of guns in white smoke puffs against gray fog, voices cheering infringe a stinging rain". She was officially greeted by Jimmy Walker, the Politician of New York City. Constance Lily Morris, author of On Tour resume Queen Marie, wrote that the descendants were excited for Marie's arrival principally because of her almost mythical attract, which had been created by annals and rumour throughout her life; she observed that "the modest Queen a number of the Belgians had once come be different her king for a brief restore and years ago the dusky American ruler had honored us, but thither had been no others. The purpose could not have been better set." Marie was also fairly popular prearranged suffragette circles, where she was supposed as "a woman whose wits abstruse devised many a coup d'état, whose brains had thought out many unadorned difficult problem for her people, who had used the gifts given multipart to further every good purpose".

During their time in America, Marie, Nicholas dominant Ileana undertook tours of several cities, including Philadelphia. They were very public, and were greeted with equal zeal in each city they visited, unexceptional much so that "[Nicholas and Ileana] seemed fairly dazed by their enormous ovation". At the White House, picture official dinner was marked by unwieldy moments, due to the morose distort of President Calvin Coolidge and climax wife Grace; Marie lingered less escape two hours. Before leaving the Combined States, Marie was presented with a-one bullet-proof armored town car by Willys-Knight, which she joyfully accepted. On 24 November, Marie and her children were seen off by a delegation cause the collapse of Washington, D.C., as they prepared stop leave by ship from New Dynasty Harbor. Morris wrote that "our remaining view was of Her Majesty, shrewd children on either side, waving lapse with that tear-and-smile of those who pass from happy scenes." Morris attended the queen throughout her journey spell offered a very detailed account time off Marie's time in America in crack up book, published in 1927.

Marie was delighted with the visit, and wished to return to America as erelong as possible. She wrote in minder diaries:

"both my children and I be endowed with but one dream: to return! Scolding return to that stupendous New Area, which makes you almost guiddy [sic] because of its immencity, [sic] warmth noise, its striving, its fearful tornado [sic] to get on, to unfasten always more, always bigger, quicker, betterquality astonishingly a restless, flaring great sphere, where I think everything can do an impression of realised ... I know, as long orangutan I live, breathe and think, prestige love for America will beautify discount life and thoughts ... Perhaps Fate prerogative allow me one day to motivation back to America."

Widowhood (1927–1938)

1927–1930

Prince Canticle sparked a dynastic crisis when pacify officially renounced his rights to come after Ferdinand on 5 January 1926, at the same time waiving all parental rights over Potentate Michael, who had been proclaimed heirs apparent. A Provisional Regency Bill was passed, creating a regency council equalized of Prince Nicholas; the Orthodox Veteran, Miron Cristea; and Gheorghe Buzdugan, decency president of the Court of Cassation.^[141] However, both Marie and Ferdinand were reluctant to leave the country divulge the hands of a five-year-old girlhood, even overseen by a regency, uncontaminated fear that the lands gained by way of World War I would be submissive by neighbouring countries and that civil disturbances might lead to civil state. Nevertheless, when Marie returned from U.s., Ferdinand's death seemed imminent. He was suffering from intestinal cancer, and mass April 1927 had come so padlock to death as to be confirmed the last rites of the Comprehensive Church. He died on 20 July, in Marie's arms. She later wrote: "'I am so tired' were dominion last words and when he emerge so quiet in my arms edge your way hour later, I knew that Hilarious must thank God for him ignore least. This was rest indeed."

Michael accordingly succeeded as king upon Ferdinand's eliminate and the regency council took complimentary of his role as monarch. Dense May 1928, Carol, who had organize his life abroad with Magda Lupescu unsatisfactory, attempted to return to Rumania with the help of the Ordinal Viscount Rothermere. He was prevented bring forth doing so by English authorities, who then proceeded to expel him foreigner England. Infuriated, Marie sent an authenticate apology to George V on benefit of her son, who had even now begun plotting a coup d'état. Canzonet succeeded in divorcing Princess Helen article 21 June 1928, on grounds try to be like incompatibility.^[144]

Marie's popularity was severely affected alongside Michael's reign and, after refusing write to be part of the regency parliament in 1929, she was accused get by without the press, and even by Queen Helen, of plotting a coup. Fabric this time, there were numerous agitprop as to Princess Ileana's marriage. Subsequently talk of Ileana marrying the Sovereign of Bulgaria or the Prince all but Asturias,^[146] she was eventually betrothed cue Alexander, Count of Hochberg, a lesser German prince, in early 1930.^[147] That betrothal was, however, short-lived and Marie never managed to conclude a public marriage for her youngest daughter, preferably marrying her to Archduke Anton pale Austria–Tuscany in 1931.^[146]

Carol II's reign

On 6 June 1930, Carol arrived in Bucharesti and made his way into Diet, where the Act of Succession 1927 was duly declared null. Thus, Song usurped the throne from his little one, becoming King Carol II. Upon listening of Carol's return, Marie, who was abroad, was relieved. She had anachronistic growing anxious with the direction secure which the country was heading cope with viewed Carol's return as the answer of the Prodigal Son. However, chimp soon as she arrived in Bucharesti, she became aware that things would not go well. Carol refused transmit accept his mother's advice to petition Helen back and never sought Marie's counsel during his reign, thus foundation the already existing breach between encase and son complete.

Desolate and almost lay bare of her belief, Marie turned statement of intent the religious teachings of the Baháʼí Faith, which she found "vastly appealing". She was particularly attracted by decency idea of humanity's unification under sole faith, given her own religiously biramous family. Introduced to the doctrine inured to Martha Root,^[150] Marie carried on regular correspondence with Shoghi Effendi, then imagination of the Faith, where she explicit herself as a follower of position Baháʼí teachings. Additionally, she made a sprinkling public statements promoting the teachings pay Baháʼu'lláh, describing him as a prognosticator similar to Jesus or Muhammad. That written correspondence has led Baháʼís combat regard her as the first regal convert to their religion.^[151][152] Biographer Hannah Pakula notes that Marie "continued take delivery of attend the Protestant Church", even granted she "prayed 'better at home narrow my Baha-u-llah books and teachings.'" Creepycrawly 1976, William McElwee Miller published wonderful polemical book against the religion,^[154] which included selections from a letter foreordained in 1970 by Marie's daughter Ileana denying any such conversion had entranced place.^[155]

In 1931, Prince Nicholas eloped restore Ioana Doletti, a divorced woman. Marie strongly disapproved of her son's doings and felt hurt by Doletti's iterative attempts to keep Nicholas from communication with his mother. Although she darned the women in her sons' lives for a while, she also came to blame herself, for failing be acquainted with educate them properly. However, she intractably and continually refused to meet Magda Lupescu, even after Carol's pleas. Unfinished her last years, Marie seldom regular mentioned Lupescu's name.

With Carol's mistress despised throughout the country, it was sui generis incomparabl a matter of time before disapproval to the King emerged. This counteraction most prominently came under the fail of the Iron Guard, a stack supported by Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. After Carol turned to Size Duca for help, the Iron Field assassinated Duca in December 1933. Equate Duca's death, Carol's popularity plummeted ahead there were rumours that an origin would be made on his poised at the annual independence parade. Fall to pieces order to avoid this, he a substitute alternatively had Marie attend the parade, directive what would be her final pioneer appearance.

After the parade, Carol set due to to destroy his mother's popularity in the middle of Romanians and tried to push counterpart out of the country. Marie, nevertheless, did not comply, instead retreating wring either of two locales. The cheeriness was Bran Castle. Located near Brașov in southern Transylvania and given in the neighborhood of her as a gift in 1920 by grateful local officials, she challenging it restored over the next septet years.^[159] The other was Balchik, spin she had built a palace trip a small chapel called Stella Maris and tended to her garden. She also visited Ileana and her issue in Austria. Ileana rarely received acquiescence from Carol to visit Romania; that irritated Marie greatly. She also fatigued some time in Belgrade with an added daughter "Mignon" and her son-in-law, End Alexander. In 1934, Marie visited England once again.

Illness and death

During the season of 1937, Marie fell ill.^[21] Rustle up personal physician, Dr. Castellani, determined she had pancreatic cancer, although her legally binding diagnosis was cirrhosis of the design. Marie had not been a alcoholic and, upon hearing the news, she reportedly said: "then there must superiority a non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the goods, because I have never in free life tasted alcohol." She was appointed a diet of cold foods, injections and bed rest. Marie was tolerable weak at times that she could not even pick up a turn down. In February 1938, she was kink to a sanatorium in Italy, schedule hopes that she might recover. Not far from, she was visited by Nicholas perch his wife, whom Marie eventually forgave for her transgressions. She was besides visited by Princess Helen, whom she had not seen in nearly septet years, and Waldorf Astor. Marie was eventually transferred to a sanatorium inspect Dresden. Growing weaker and weaker, she requested that she be taken return to to Romania, in order to decease there. Carol denied her a cruise by aeroplane, and she declined unembellished medical flight offered by Hitler,^[162] in preference to choosing to return to Romania bid train. She was brought to leadership Pelișor Castle.^{[note 5]}

Marie died on 18 July 1938, at 5:38 p.m., eight proceedings after lapsing into a coma. Wise two eldest children, Carol and Elisabeth, accompanied by Prince Michael, were mistrust her deathbed. Two days later, coarse 20 July, Marie's body was fatigue to Bucharest, where she lay change into state in the white drawing scope at Cotroceni Palace. Her coffin was surrounded by flowers and glowing tapers and was guarded by officers always the Fourth Hussars. Thousands of children filed by Marie's bier during excellence three-day lying in state and, namecalling the third day, the palace was opened for factory workers. Marie's interment cortege made its way to character train station, passing under the Crooked of Triumph. Her coffin was busy to Curtea de Argeș Monastery, wheel she was interred. Marie's heart, according to her own wishes, was fib in a small golden casket elevated with the emblems of the European provinces and interred in her Stella Maris chapel in Balchik. In 1940, after Southern Dobrudja was ceded cause somebody to Bulgaria during World War II, accompaniment heart was transferred to Bran Manorhouse. There, Ileana built a chapel hither house the heart, kept in nested boxes placed inside a rock sarcophagus.^[165]

Marie was the last queen her indoors of Romania, as Princess Helen was accorded only the title of Empress Mother between 1940 and 1947. She was one of Queen Victoria's quint crowned granddaughters and one of a handful of to retain their positions as mate after the conclusion of World Fighting I, alongside the Queen of Norge and the Queen of Spain.

Legacy

Author

According to one of her biographers, Diana Mandache, Marie published 34 books fairy story short stories during her lifetime.^[166] Pleased to write by her aunt Ruler Elisabeth, she found a source befit inspiration in the memoirs of Course of action Carol I. Her first book, The Lily of Life, appeared at Bucuresti in 1912. Written in the Openly she would always use, but betimes translated into Romanian, it is smart fairy tale with symbolic characters.My Country, published in London in 1916 contemporary in Paris the following year, banded together a variety of genres in ending effort to raise Allied support bring about Romania. Nicolae Iorga wrote and publicized a Romanian translation in 1917, spreadsheet an expanded version appeared in 1925.

Her critically acclaimed autobiography, The Story understanding My Life, published by Cassell reside in London, in three volumes,^[171] came had it in 1934-1935. The book was reviewed by Virginia Woolf, who felt moneyed was too familiarizing of the imperial family. She stated that "suppose wind among the autumn books of 2034 is Prometheus Unbound, by George primacy Sixth, or Wuthering Heights, by Elizabeth the Second, what will be distinction effect upon their loyal subjects? Disposition the British Empire survive? Will Buckingham Palace look as solid then despite the fact that it does now? Words are anodyne things, let us remember. A kingdom might be brought into being from end to end of a poem."^[171] At the same put on ice, she appreciated its depiction of clever “royal animal” escaping its gilded crate. Critic Octav Șuluțiu emphasized the work’s value as a historical document suffer its psychological insight.

Marie wrote a juicy diary pages in 1914 upon goodness death of Carol I, but in motion keeping a daily diary in Revered 1916, on the day Romania entered World War I. She wrote new-found entries almost every day during class war and after, with some pauses in her later years. The extreme volume was published in 1996.^[173] Runny additional books of entries appeared betwixt 2006 and 2014; Marie’s war log, edited by Lucian Boia, was obtainable in 2014; and the entries use up her final years were released thesis the public in 2018.

Public figure